Automatic vent for casks



(N0 Model.)

Patented Deb. 8, 1891.

FIG-1 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LOUIS STUHR, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

AUTOMATIC VENT FOR CASKS.

SPEGIFICATION forming paart of Letters Patent N0. 464,703, dated Deeember 8, 1891.

Application filed May 25, 1891. Serial N0. 394,053. (N0 model.)

T0 all whom it mayconcern:'

Be it known that I, LOUIS STUHR, a citizen of the Unied States residing in the city and county 0f San Francisco, State of California, have inventod an Improvement in Automat-1c Vencs for Oasks; and I hereby cleclare the following t0 be a full, clear, ancl exaot desoription of the same.

My invention relatesto a devioe which is espeoially applioable to casks and kegs coutaining Iager-loeezr and other liquidsnot under pressure.

lt oonsists of an automatically-operating vent and checkvalve, which will be rn0re f ully explained by reference to the aceompanying drawings, in whioh Figure 1 is a view of the tubular sooket- Witl1 the valve-plug rennovecl. Fig. 2 is a section of the valve-plug. Fig. 3 shows the application of my invention in a keg.

In drawing whab are known as still liquors, 01 'll0S8 havingno carbonic-acid gas whieh is retainecl in thom by external pressure, it is necessary 130 make some sort of an opening in ehe upper part of the cask*for tl1e admission of air a0 take t-he plaoe of the liquid a s lt is withclrawn. This 'is especially neeessary in oho caseof lager-beer, and in Order to provide such a vent which Will admit tl1e neeessary quantityof air ancl at the same ti-me protecfi the interior of the eask from the aclmission of foreign substanoes and also prevent any escape of the gas Which gradually esoapes fi0rn the beer and is coutainecl in the oask, Ihave devised my preseno invention.

A is a tapering tubular sooket-pieco, whieh is fitted t0 be clriven into oho upper end of tl1e cask, and it has an openingB made upon one side. This opening is sorew-threaded in the inner portion and has a countersunk opening exterior to the sorew-threacled portion, into whioh tl1e head C of the part wl1ich carries the valve is fitted. Beneath the head O is a sorew-threadecl portion whieh fits the threacls of the part A, ancl beyond tl1is is a smaller screw-threadecl valve se-at portion D, over whioh tho cap E is sorewed fron1 the opposite end. A hole 1's made oentrally through this portion, and a conical valveeat is made in the face of thopart D, against whioh oho valve G closes outwardly to prevent any escape of The end of the eap E is made in the for1n of a yoke 01 bridge, through whioh the stem H passes, and an open space is left upon eaoh side to allow air to pass in freely when t-he valve is raised frorn its SGEL'D' and flow to the interior of the eask; bu1: when any pressure occurs within the cask caused by the gradual release 0f gas from the liquid the valve will be closed against the seat in the part D, and the gas will thus be prevented from flowing outwardly. As soon as the liquid is dra wn down again suffieiently t0 create a vaouu 111 within [he cask the valve will be foroed o the seat D ancl air Will flow in through the oentral hole ancl through the spaces around the valve.

The outer faoe of head O l1as a square socket made in it for the Insertion of a tool loy whioh it may be screwed into the conntersunk opening in the part A, and -it Will thus be proteotecl from injury or fron1 loss.

The upperend 01 head of the parl: A is made suffioiently heavy '00 allow of its being driven into alle encl of the oask wiohoutinjury to he valve or valve-seat.

Having thus described m y invention, what I claim as new, and desire t0 seoure by Letters Patent, is

1. An automatio veht and eheck-valve for oasks, consisting of the screw-threacled cylindrical plug having the central hole inade through lt and a seao upon the inner end, a cap fitting over saicl seat, a valve fitting the interior of said oap, closin g outwardlyagainst the seao in t-he plug, and openings mado through the oap exterior to ehe periphery of the valve, whereby the valve 1nay beolosed against the seat to prevent the esoape of gas fron1 tl1e interiox, whilo air may be admitted around the valve When the, latter is oponecl, substantially as herein describecl.

2. A venb and gas-check for casks,- consist- Ing of the plug having oho seat 011 its inner end and a hole c0n1mu nieating with said seat and protect the valve, snbstantially as herein 10 from the outside, a serew-cap fittingoversaid deseribed.

seat, containing an outwardly-closing valve, In witness whereof I have hereunto Set n1y openings made through the cap exterior t0 band.

the peri hery of the valve, whereb air is ad- 1 mitted ';hen the va1ve is open, anthe valve- LOUIS S1 holder 01 pa1L A, adapted t0 be driven into Witnesses:

the cask, having fl1e serew-threaded and S. II. NOURSE,

countersunk opening on the side t0 receive l J. A. BAYLESS. 

